The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-23
THE OLD FOUNDERS STORY.
a Simple Little Tale in the Casino Bal
cony-A Blocker Street Angel.
From the Nero York Graphic.

FROM Ue -fStO I OTh OFuDltC.
Some men we're chatting on the Casino
balcony last night. Shapely forms, rich
dresses and flashing jewels Illuminated the
stage below, and these men talked of ac-
tresses and their Conquest and conquests
-Four We're rather sapless young men in the
| immaculate evening dress and eyeglasses.
| The fifth was a man who commanded atten-
| ton when he rarely spoke He was the
popular type of a club man; portly, I'M
rufiied, purple of face, heavy of jawl and
perfectly attired in a Prince Albert coat and
yellow checked trousers. He was something
of mystery even to his club. He was
known to be man with a his
| tory. The single young men knew
him only for an incorrigible roun-
der and an answering patron of
the drama. After the other four had
Dragged themselves out as to their stage
door experiences, the old rounder said:
when was younger man, boys, L had
little of this sort of experience myself. And
don't mind telling youa story
The four young men eagerly listened.
"You remember, perhaps, though you
wera all ct the university then, when the
Black Crook was first brought out at
Niblo's Garden. l was just back from
Paris. and feel bound to say the fuss made
over it was ridiculous. was there the first
AlAt9uOs gov IOWA ulClO plObJJ OLbtl
afterward In fact there was girl on the
stage that I'd taken a mighty fancy to. She
was third in the line of the amazons-a
slight, shrinking little thing, with the face
of Raphaels Madonna The first night
sent bouquet behind with my card and
on it was the number of my cab. That
used to be the method, you know. You
chaps haven't improved on it. Well,
waited beside the cab till midnight, and
6rOx-a OFF olo1,o Tho nayt rinrbf nnourAia1
a stage box. hate to be suspicious, but
made up my mind to have that girl.
managed to catch her eye, Sand the next
time she passed me threw her bunch of
roses. Inside was my card, and on one stem
was tied big diamond ring. The girl saw
both, and she deliberately kicked the flowers
into the orchestra.
''Well, l was younger then than l am
now and carried rather less flesh about me.
And I'm bound to say hadn't been en-
tirely neglected by the ladies. My blood was
up. Besides this had notion, based on
some experience, that the favors of any
chorus girl was only question of time
and money The next day my Madonna
had received note addressed TO her by her
real name-her first name, by the way, was
Mary-wlth the usual story of mad despair
at her indifference and-and all the rest Of
it, you know told her I would wait that
night at the stage door and take her home
AT II o'clock there was. Well disguised,
for men of the world those days my boys,
didn't like to be seen in such places. She
came out, closely muffled, but l knew her
springing step, and she had the air, by -,
of duchess joined her at the corner Of
Blocker street
"'Well, said /, here am
She said nothing; just looked at me with
her big eyes and walked along Well, told
her how badly felt at her Indifference, and
how l would do anything to gain her love,
and lot of the sort of rot that men think
all women expect, as walked along beside
her. She didn't say a word; Just walked
along and looked me straight in the face
whenever we came to a lamp-post. She
wasn't afraid of me, and she played none of
the timid, don't-touch-me, go-off-or-Ill-
scream business. just looked at me, you
know, and somehow / couldn't talk with my
usual agreeable fuency Somehow | felt
mean and cheap and low, and before we had
gone two blocks to the west of Broadway
wanted to drop it and cut away. | don't
know whether pride kept me or-or some
thing of what the parsons call Providence.
But staid till she reached one of those old
fashioned brick houses below South Fifth
avenue and felt in her pocket for a key.
Then l plucked up nerve to say with pain
full Righteousness:
Won't you invite me upp
eyes, you may come up she said as she
might have spoken to beggar asking for
meal.
"Well, that knocked me all up tried to
kiss her, but she put me away, and l fol-
Flowed her upstairs to room on the third
story. A shaded lamp cast dim light, and
1 only saw one thing. Lying asleep in a
double bed was beautiful boy about two
years old. / amt sentimental, but tell YOU
felt as | looked at him, boys, and watched
that girl stoop over and kiss his hair-well,
you know the story of the shepherds in Pal
estine, eh' The boy was sound asleep and
she turned to me. I'll never forget the
contempt, the indignation, the sadness, too,
of her face.
"'This is my brother she said, DO you
think he needs diamonds And now you
may 60
''Well, I got out somehow, and the next
day sent bank book to that boy with
enough to his credit on it to bring him up
like gentleman"
The old rounder stopped abruptly and
took long draught of brandy and Soda
The music arose from below like a lullaby
There was an uncomfortable silence for
moment. Then somebody asked:
"And what became of the girl q
"Wby-I married her," And the old
rounder lit fresh cigar and arose.
''She is dead now" he added, as he walked
slowly away.